Railroad Jobs in Maine – The Ultimate Guide

Wondering if there are any railroad jobs in Maine? Unfortunately, Maine does not house any class I railroads. So, if you’re hoping to get a well-paying Class I position, you will need to search elsewhere.

Although, the state does house Amtrack & It also runs five shortlines and regionals. If you’re still persistent in getting a railroad job in the area, these are your best bets.

There were a few railroads back in the day. And most of them are abandoned and decommissioned. However, there have been discussions about bringing back some of these lines. As of today, Maine’s overall rail infrastructure is just slightly over 1,000 miles of track.

Ultimately, there are still opportunities you can grab. In fact, if you are qualified and have experience, you already have a competitive edge. You might be able to score a high position, too.

In this post, we’ll be highlighting all the railroad companies you can apply for in Maine! We’ll also tackle its history, and why there are only a few tracks on the state. Additionally, we highlight some good job hunting tips to remember.

Let’s start!

railroad jobs in maine

History Of Maine Railroads

When people or businesses think of main, they think of two elements. Timber reserves and potatoes. This has been the case for more than 170 years. The railways of this northern state are often overlooked.

Maine’s first railways commenced in the 1830s. In 1836, The Bangor & Piscataquis Canal and Railroad made their debut. This network mainly connected Bangor with Old Town. This infrastructure ran only 12 miles of track.

And for the most part, they transported forestry and timber. Subsequently, The Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad connected to the Bangor and Katahdin Railroad. This led to the birth of the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad. (BAR). It was also amongst Maine’s most renowned railways.

Moreover, Maine was also known for its two-foot gauged railways. Many local lumberjacks liked this narrow-gauge rail because of its convenience. They used it extensively.

In this period, several of these narrow-gauge railways existed along with privately-owned networks. This includes the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railroad, Madrid Railroad, etc.

According to George Hilton, these railways totaled more than 400 miles of track.

For the most part, all of these Maine railroad lines that ever existed are now gone. The government started removing defunct rails in the 1920s and some were left abandoned. Do I sense a railroad tie opportunity here haha.

But, they rendered a great part of the state’s economy back then. These defunct railways then moved the state’s major traffic generators.

The railroad sector still drives a part of the state’s economy, of course. Just not as comprehensively.

This also doesn’t take away railroader welfare. It may not be as extensive as Class I experiences, but it still lends good benefits. It opens some job opportunities and offers railroaders great employment.

single train track with railroad ties and railway spikes

Things To Know Before Applying For Railroad Jobs in Maine

The first thing you should know before applying for railroad jobs in Maine is the weather. It gets particularly cold in this state. Winter can get notoriously harsh, you must add to that the challenges of your job. Because of this, it can get hard to move around and focus. So, if you don’t like dealing with snow and the cold, you might find it challenging.

Ensure you are prepared and well-equipped, mind you, if you have grown up in the state, you know what it’s about.

Besides, there are other non-field-related jobs if you don’t want to work outside. You can work in the communications field, management, or architecture.

Next is the salary. According to these statistics, the average salary in Maine is about $42,500. But, this varies on education, certification, and skills. It will also depend on the company you work for.

Moreover, the highest paying jobs are the DOE, locomotive engineer, and conductor. But remember, there is no class I railroads in Maine. And Class Is typical pays the highest. So, your chances are lower of finding a class I-standard compensation here, in fact, they are 0. It’s always best to manage your expectations accordingly.

And we know that starting wages fluctuate with each new opportunity, but they will not remain stagnant. More experience in this industry and a great work ethic will open up doors in Maine or other states.

Since there is no Class Is in Maine, there will unlikely be 12-hour shifts. But, this does not imply that work will be easier. Additionally, certain shortlines do not have sophisticated tracking and servicing machinery. As a result, there might be more manual work expected.

Nevertheless, Main still has a range of options to choose from. And if you’re a beginner, you will learn a lot from the regionals and shortlines. If you just want to gain experience for a higher position, this is an ideal way to go.

When it comes to railroad jobs in Maine, it’s all about finding what works for you.

Where To Find Railroad Jobs in Maine

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s explore your options. Railroad jobs in Maine come in two classes. These are the regionals and shortlines. Neither class is superior to the other when job hunting. As previously said, the key is to discover what works best for you.

train moving in snowy weather

Regional Railroad Jobs in Maine

There are two regional railroad companies in Maine. You can work for either of the following:

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (or Central Maine & Quebec Railway)

Class II regional railroad, MM&A, was in service from 2003 until the beginning of 2014. From here, it acquired the defunct Bangor & Aroostook Railway (BAR). Because of this, it immediately became a substantial Class II carrier. It ran over 700 miles of track.

After a few years, they experienced a dilemma. The government held them responsible for abandoning 200 miles of BAR rail lines. But, they were able to resolve this.

But, in 2013, an oil train catastrophe decimated Lac-Mégantic. The MM&A went bankrupt as a result of this.

After a while, Fortress Investment Group bought it. Thus, it became the Central Maine & Quebec Railway from that point forth. And since 2020, it became a Canadian Pacific subsidiary.

The CP network grew to approximately 13,000 miles of track. This network serves as a nexus between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The rail connects six provinces in Canada and 11 USA states.

To learn more about the company and its job openings, click here.

Pan Am Railways

This is a slightly new regional railway. It has only been around since 2006. Despite this, the company managed to gain partnerships with the top players. This includes Norfolk Southern.

Their initiatives are collectively known as the “Patriot Corridor Double-Stack Clearance Initiative“. New England is served by this high-speed freight railway that links Albany and Boston. And because of this, it easily grew as a dominant regional railroad in Maine.

It was the biggest class II carrier in the nation. And because of its size, Amtrack hosted its trains on its network. Overall, Pam Am operated nearly 2,000 miles of track. However, in June 2020, Trains Magazine reported that Pan Am was presently for sale.

Eventually, CSX Transportation bought the network in 2020 for a staggering 700 million.

If you want to apply for Pam Am, check their website. Click here. Or, contact the company for more details.

maine railway tracks in the snow

Shortline and Terminal Railroad Jobs in Maine

Now, let’s take a look at Maine’s shortlines. Currently, there are four class IIIs in Maine. Here are your options:

Eastern Maine Railway

The Eastern Maine Railway (or EMRY) is a class III railroad in the United States. The New Brunswick Railway Corporation, a holding company, owns it. In addition, this company is associated with Irving Transportation Services, a component of JD Irving Limited.

EMRY runs a unified 189-mile railway with sister business New Brunswick Southern Railway. This route connects Brownville Junction, Saint John, and New Brunswick. They also run 67 miles of track in Canada.

Learn more about their job openings by clicking here.

New Hampshire Northcoast Corp.

This shortline dates back to the 1980s. In 1986, the company bought one of Maine’s defunct railroads. Due to an extensive rebuilding effort, this line was upgraded to Class III freight status. Now, the network lies on more than 40 hectares of property. Additionally, its services span from locomotive maintenance to car storage.

Learn more about the company by clicking here.

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad

This shortline belongs to the renowned Genesee & Wyoming Railroad. It stretches 157 miles of track. Its route runs from Portland, Norton, and Vermont. Moreover, St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad hauls a variety of items. This includes bricks, aggregate, cement, and chemicals. If you want to learn more about St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad, click here.

Turners Island, LLC

This 14-acre maritime freight facility is independently controlled. South Portland, Maine, is where the ship’s terminal is situated. They are capable of transporting almost every kind of item that can be transported by rail or water. Additionally, Pan Am Railways links Turners Island’s shortline with commercial locations around USA.

Contact the company directly for job openings. View their contact details by clicking here.

maine lighthouse overlooking the ocean

Begin Your Journey As A Railroader in Maine!

Just because you have limited options in Maine, doesn’t mean you can’t thrive as a railroad worker. These companies can definitely give you knowledge and experience.

So, if you’re still keen on working in Maine after this post, go for it! It’s a great way to get your foot in the door. Plus, you never know what benefits await you.

And if some companies start reliving abandoned railways in the future, that’s great news.

Now, since your options are limited, you might experience some waiting times. The job market might be tight. But, don’t give up.

If you want to expand your options, we can help. You can look through our railroad jobs per state. Click here.

We also post some articles on the railroad industry. Feel free to immerse yourself in the ins and outs of the railroad!

This concludes railroad jobs in Maine.

We wish you the best in your railroad career.

Good luck!